Meet Karie Hicks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karie Hicks.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I grew up with my mom letting me be adventurous in her kitchen. She would take me to the library to get cookbooks and try out recipes starting around age 8. Between swimming and reading books, that’s how I would spend my summers. I was pretty wild and crazy back then! My mom would also let me have ice cream topped with cereal for breakfast, so my love of sweets started early on. During the summer I would also spend some time with my aunt (my mom’s sister) and my uncle, and they were definite “foodies,” and both had a sweet tooth, so I spent time with them learning to bake and also learned my love of real butter from them back then. My mom also taught me the valuable lesson of cleaning up after myself in the kitchen, and that has stuck with me, and I’m grateful for that. I love a clean kitchen all ready for me to bake in!

Please tell us about your art.
I definitely show my love to people through baking. My philosophy is that baked goods are always the right gift for every occasion. It has been how I show my love to my sons and my husband and family and friends. I love trying new recipes and seasonal treats. My chocolate chip cookies are frequently requested because they are full of mini chocolate chips and stay soft and chewy because of a secret ingredient! But people also love my triple layer lemon bars, key lime shortbread cookies, red velvet Oreo brownies, caramelitas, scones, and many more sweet treats! My cousin showed me how to make my own vanilla, and I have been doing that for the past 18 years. I love using real vanilla and real butter in my baked goods. It makes a difference. I am hoping to have chickens soon so that I can use fresh eggs also. I love to try new recipes but put my own ideas into it. One of the things I love is how happy baked treats make people.

As my three sons were growing up and involved in sports, I would be the team mom and would love to bake brownies and cookies and chocolate chip cookie dough balls for the teams over the years and through high school. That has been my most favorite job of all time!
Over the years, as life got more stressful, I found that any free time I had I would spend baking. If I had a busy week and my to-do list was long, I would chose to bake first and then I would tackle the list. Baking definitely ranks before all the other things that can wait. So that’s how I’ve dealt with stress, and sadness. Baking is very therapeutic for me. It gives me lots of time to think while I’m baking.
I enjoy baking the things that grandma used to bake, except in my case, it was also my Grandpa Jahn. He baked the best Christmas cookies, especially the snickerdoodles. I bake real homemade goodies that taste like home. Not necessarily the fancy decorated things, but the mouth-watering, stop what you’re doing, baked goodies.

My best friend had been encouraging me to sell my baked goods for years, and I had an opportunity to do this a couple of years ago. I finally listened to her, and I’m glad I did. She believed in me when I was too self-conscious to do that for myself. Putting my baked goods out there feels like putting my heart out there for people to see and that is so out of my comfort zone! I’ve gained some confidence since then and have the most supportive husband who loves to be my taste tester and give honest feedback. I am surrounded by a great family!

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
Competing with the convenience of just running to the grocery store to get baked goods. It is a less expensive option, but it also tastes like that too. I also think people want to support local, but the outlet for local small businesses are limited. If small businesses are unable (or don’t want to go into debt to start off) with a brick and mortar, how and where are we able to sell our products?

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Currently, I bake from home (I love my custom kitchen that my husband created for me!) and do custom orders and wholesale orders. I put pictures of all the goodies I bake on Instagram, Facebook, and my website so that people can see what I do and what they can order. I also offer a Sweet Subscription for delivery with details on my website where you can get goodies delivered all year long. There’s even an option to get homemade dog biscuits for your favorite four-legged friends. I have participated in a farmer’s market this past Spring and my baked goods are available at a few local places – Faye’s Farmstand in Laveen and Tattered Nest in Phoenix. My hopes are to open something locally here in Laveen since it is where I live and is a growing area. I have some ideas about how to make that happen, so stay tuned!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.butterbakery1978.com/
• Phone: 602-390-0461
• Email: butterbakery1978@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butterbakery1978/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/butterbakery1978/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ButterBakery78

Image Credit:
Brady Cook of Enjoy Media
Keola Creative (Joel Kanitz)

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